What is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a public database that stores registration information about domain names. When someone registers a domain, their contact information (or their privacy service's information) is recorded in the WHOIS database.
What Information Does WHOIS Show?
- Registrar – The company where the domain was registered
- Registration Date – When the domain was first registered
- Expiration Date – When the domain registration expires
- Nameservers – DNS servers that handle the domain
- Status – Current state of the domain (active, locked, etc.)
- Registrant – The domain owner (may be hidden by privacy services)
Common Uses
- Domain Research – Check if a domain is registered and when it expires
- Contacting Owners – Find contact information for domain owners
- Security – Investigate suspicious domains or phishing sites
- Business – Research competitors or potential domain purchases
Privacy Notice
Many domain owners use WHOIS privacy services to hide their personal information. In such cases, you'll see the privacy service's contact information instead of the actual owner's details. This is a legitimate practice to protect against spam and harassment.